2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 2.9L Diesel · FP70 HTZ

The vehicle’s most recent MOT history reveals a concerning instability in roadworthiness, particularly in the final three months of 2025. The July 2025 test at 48,259 miles passed without defects, yet just three days earlier, the same mileage triggered a failure—despite no recorded issues. This abrupt reversal suggests either a critical oversight in pre-test preparation or a latent fault that surfaced under test conditions. The June 2024 and October 2023 tests, both passing cleanly, indicate prior reliability, but the repeated failure at identical mileage in 2025 warrants suspicion of a recurring or intermittent issue, possibly linked to emissions, suspension alignment, or brake binding that only manifests under specific driving conditions. Mileage progression shows a steady but moderate accumulation, averaging around 8,000 miles annually—a rate typical for a vehicle of this age. The gap between the October 2023 and June 2024 tests (6,774 miles over eight months) suggests either seasonal storage or consistent light-to-moderate use. However, the identical mileage at failure and pass in July 2025 (48,259 miles) is anomalous and implies the vehicle may have been driven extensively between tests without addressing underlying concerns. The lack of defects in prior passes further underscores that whatever triggered the July 2025 failure was not a gradual wear issue but likely a sudden malfunction or a component nearing its service interval. Given the recent instability, a buyer should prioritise an immediate inspection of the exhaust system, catalytic converter, and oxygen sensors—common causes of emissions-related failures that can appear and disappear unpredictably. The repeated failure at the same mileage hints at a potential catalytic converter efficiency drop or a faulty sensor, both of which can fluctuate based on driving conditions. Additionally, the suspension should be scrutinised for worn bushes, uneven coil spring wear, or misaligned components, as these often cause intermittent handling issues that testers may catch under specific dynamic conditions. Brake systems, particularly rear calipers or binding mechanisms, should also be checked for uneven wear or corrosion, as these can manifest as binding faults during MOT testing. Structural corrosion at wheel arches, sills, or subframes—common in Mercedes models—should be visually inspected, especially if the vehicle has experienced wet or salted roads. Given the lack of recorded defects in prior tests, these areas may have been overlooked, but their absence from the MOT record does not guarantee their absence from the vehicle.